SSEL2603. Communicating Effectively: Elevate Your Communication, Elevate Your Impact

Strong communication is not a “soft skill;” it is the foundation of leadership credibility, client trust, team engagement, and performance. Yet, many emerging leaders in public accounting struggle with unclear messaging, ineffective digital communication, missed expectations, and difficult conversations, especially in high-pressure environments like during busy season. And in today’s primarily virtual workplace, how leaders communicate replaces most other forms of “being” with people.

In this interactive session, Amanda Simmonds draws on 20 years of experience in public accounting leadership across firms of 30 to 3,000 professionals to explore the most common communication breakdowns that derail emerging leaders. Participants will examine the gap between intention and impact and learn a practical framework to increase clarity, confidence, and accountability in their everyday interactions. Using the SPIIRALL Communication Framework, attendees will learn actionable strategies they can immediately apply to client conversations, feedback discussions, team meetings, and digital communication.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify common communication mistakes that reduce clarity, trust, and team effectiveness.
• Recognize the components of effective communication, including listening, emotional regulation, audience adaptation, and action alignment.
• Recognize the SPIIRALL Communication Framework and strategies to improve clarity and reduce misunderstandings in common professional scenarios.